Art and Books Spark Discussions About Teen Pregnancy Prevention
 t Ridgway High
School in Santa Rosa — a city with one of the highest teen pregnancy rates in
California — literature and art are opening doors for teens to discuss issues related
to pregnancy prevention. With a two-year, $30,000 grant from TCWF, teachers at this
400-student continuation high school have purchased fine arts and literary materials that
are used to inspire discussions about teen sexuality and expand students’ abilities
to talk about the subject in a healthy way.
These materials complement Ridgway’s Teen Issues class, a pilot project for a
survival skills course that will soon be a graduation requirement for all schools in the
Santa Rosa City High School District. One of the goals of this class is to help teens
avoid unplanned pregnancies and accompanying health problems, which can include babies
with low birthweights, higher incidences of childhood disease and inadequate mental and
physical health care for teen mothers and their babies.
   “As we
looked at the school curriculum, we found very little health taught in schools,” said
Susan Adler, an art instructor instrumental in setting up the Teen Issues class.
“When we asked the kids what they needed, it became apparent that they really want to
know more about themselves and their sexuality.”
Adler and Teen Issues Instructor Barbara Williams also realized that they needed to
take a holistic approach to pregnancy prevention because of the many problems facing their
at-risk student population.
“Many of our students have drug and alcohol problems, which lead to risk-taking
behavior. And they often come from backgrounds that provide very few opportunities to
learn healthy approaches to life,” Adler said.
Ridgway’s library is now packed with literature, music and art resources that
address sensitive issues such as what it means to be a good father and how important it is
for both parents to be adequately prepared for the birth of a child. Adler is especially
pleased the materials will remain for the students after the grant from TCWF has ended.
And the impact reaches far beyond the Teen Issues classroom, as students and teachers post
health and pregnancy prevention messages around the campus.
To ensure the teens are receiving accurate information, Ridgway staff members attend
workshops on sexual issues, and a health educator from the Sonoma County Department of
Health Services is a regular guest at Ridgway. “She talks to the students about
preparing for sexual relationships and tells students real stories, not just abstract
facts they have trouble relating to,” Adler said.
To expand discussion opportunities, teachers take students on long, strenuous hikes and
“ropes course” adventures designed to develop trust, communication and a sense
of community. During these activities, discussions of pregnancy prevention and sexual
health issues are “snuck in,” Adler said.
“This program is a good example of how a relatively small grant can make a big
impact,” said Mercy Siordia, TCWF program officer. “Teachers have taken a
healthy, realistic approach to develop a well-rounded program that helps kids explore
their own issues in a comfortable setting.”
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